Vincent Makes His Point: He Should Be No. 1

April 23, 1990|By Barry Cooper of The Sentinel Staff

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Sam Vincent, point guard for the Orlando Magic, figures the Magic didn't sign him to a 3-year, $3.7 million contract for nothing. That is why he intends to be the point guard for the Magic next season and doesn't expect to share the position equally with Scott Skiles or anyone else.

Vincent, troubled by one nagging injury after another, lost his starting job to Skiles in the second half of the season and never regained it. But he said he isn't worried.

''I don't have any doubt in my mind that I am going to come back and be the starting point guard next season,'' Vincent said Sunday after the Magic wrapped up their inaugural season. ''I see myself playing 38, 39 minutes a game.''

That would leave precious little time - about 10 minutes a game - for anybody else at the point. Although Vincent said ''that commitment has been made to me'' by the Magic's management, Coach Matt Guokas said no decisions have been made about who will start next season. Before the Magic can decide on their rotation at point guard, they have to determine who the point guards will be.

Vincent's contract made him one of the highest-paid point guards in the league, and that alone all but assures the team will keep him and give him every chance to be the starter.

The situation at backup point guard is unsettled. The Magic have six guards on the roster - at least one too many - and the club likely will either allow veteran Skiles to be lost to free agency or will cut or trade Morlon Wiley.

In addition, signing Skiles could be costly. His agent, Keith Glass, suggested after the game that he would seek no less than $1 million per year for his client, who earned $350,000 this season.

Skiles and Wiley are both point guards, and if Vincent is to receive the lion's share of minutes next season, the Magic may choose to make Wiley his backup. That would prevent any chance of a point guard controversy between Vincent and Skiles, what with Skiles clearly having established himself as the Magic's most popular player.